The Hardy Hibiscus Flower You Can Grow For Garden Beauty From Spring To Fall

Flowering shrubs add greenery and structure to your landscaping with the added perk of putting on a show of blooms during the growing season. However, some shrubs have short-lived blossoms that only last for a few weeks—we're talking about lilacs, forsythia, azaleas, and rhododendrons, among others. If you want longer-lasting blooms plus a shrub that is drought-tolerant and easy to care for, consider the hardy blue hibiscus shrub. This plant will put on a show of purple-blue flowers that lasts far beyond the quick spring burst of other popular flowering shrubs. Blue hibiscus shrubs typically bloom from from April through October.

The shrub's scientific name is Alogyne huegelii but it's most frequently referred to by its common name, blue hibiscus. The name requires a bit of explanation since this plant is not the same as the tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). Both plants are part of the Mallow family and used to be part of the same Hibiscus genus. However, blue hibiscus is now part of a separate Alogyne genus, which includes plants native to Australia. In the United States, this hardy hibiscus is grown as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. It reaches a mature height of 6 to 8 feet, so it makes quite a statement but may not be the best pick if you need a flowering shrub for a small yard or garden.

To maximize the flowering potential of this hardy hibiscus, you'll need to choose the right planting spot and give the shrub just enough water. Blue hibiscus shrubs do best in a spot in your garden that receives full sun and has well-draining soil. Take practical steps to make sure that you don't overwater this plant. As a rule of thumb, a deep watering about once a week should be sufficient but if the soil is already wet, withhold water until dry. Don't worry about extending the time between waterings since the blue hibiscus is tolerant of drought.

Like other plants in the Malvaceae family, this hardy hibiscus has flowers that open in the morning and shrivel by the end of the day. That won't put a damper on the beauty you'll enjoy since the shrub will produce hundreds of blooms to replace spent flowers throughout the growing season. With the right growing conditions, blue hibiscus shrubs can bloom for six months or more with flowers spanning 4 to 6 inches in diameter. Until they reach their mature height, this plant will also do well in containers. Hummingbirds love it, and if you prune it when winter arrives, you can ensure it stays compact.